Former Abercrombie CEO pleads not guilty to sex trafficking charges

Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries has pleaded not guilty to charges of interstate sex trafficking and prostitution.

Lawyers entered the plea on behalf of Mr. Jeffries in New York federal court on Long Island as he sat next to them in court in a navy suit, his face expressionless.

Sitting just one row behind Jeffries was his alleged middleman, James Jacobson, who also pleaded not guilty during a hearing immediately after the former CEO.

Jeffries’ British-American partner, Matthew Smith, who faces the same charges, is expected to appear in court in New York at a later date.

Federal prosecutors have said the men used force, fraud and coercion to engage in “violent and exploitative” sexual acts.

The FBI launched an investigation into the former A&F CEO last year after a BBC report investigation It found several men who accused Jeffries and Smith of sexually abusing them at events they hosted at their New York residences and hotels around the world.

During a 10-minute court hearing Friday on Long Island, New York Judge Steven Tiscione told Jeffries he would be under house arrest, adding that he was only allowed to leave his homes in New York and Florida for medical appointments, visits to their lawyers and religious events.

Jeffries posted $10 million bail using his home on Fisher Island in New York as collateral.

The hearing was attended by both Mr. Jeffries’ son and wife, who had to agree to use their house for the bond, since she also owns the property.

The judge asked his wife, Susan, if she understood that their house could be seized if Mr. Jeffries did not appear in court.

She told the judge she understood.

One of Jeffries’ alleged victims, David Bradberry, who previously told the BBC about the alleged abuse, sat in the front row of the courtroom as the charges against the former chief executive were read.

Jeffries did not answer questions from reporters Friday afternoon as he left the courtroom and got into a black van.

The BBC investigation uncovered a sophisticated operation involving a middleman, Mr Jacobson, and a network of recruiters tasked with finding men for these events.

Prosecutors unsealed an indictment against the three men shortly after Jeffries and his partner were arrested in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday. Mr. Jacobson was arrested in Wisconsin.

Messrs. Jeffries and Jacobson were released on bail. Mr. Smith was arrested.

Prosecutors say Jeffries and his partner preyed on “dozens” of vulnerable young women seeking careers in fashion and modeling, exploiting them for their own sexual pleasure between 2008 and 2015.

The indictment lists 15 victims who are not named.

The three men could face up to life in prison if convicted of sex trafficking and up to 20 years in prison if convicted of interstate prostitution.

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace alleged Tuesday that Jeffries spent a “prolific amount of money” trafficking men to engage in sexual acts with him and his partner, while staff and security They monitored the events.

Peace said the couple hired Jacobson to recruit men for the couple, flying them to their home in New York and other locations where they were pressured to consume alcohol, Viagra and muscle relaxants or injected with them against their will.

In its initial investigation, the BBC spoke to 12 men who described attending or organizing events involving sexual acts with Jeffries, 80, and his British partner, Smith, 61.

The eight men who attended the events said they were recruited by an intermediary the BBC identified as James Jacobson.

Then, last month, more men showed up. Some alleged assistants of Mr. Jeffries had had what they were told was liquid Viagra injected into their penises.

After the BBC’s initial investigation was published last year, A&F announced it would open an independent investigation into the allegations.

Jeffries was the company’s chief executive from 1992 until 2014, when he resigned following falling sales and left with a retirement package worth around $25m (£20.5m).

His next court appearance will be December 12.